A Kiribati fisheries observer remains missing after a 72-hour search at sea failed to locate the observer aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged purse seiner in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) exclusive economic zone.
The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) confirmed the incident occurred at about 9.30pm on 05 November while the vessel, KOO’S 103, was transiting through FSM waters.
MIMRA said the vessel alerted nearby ships and search and rescue services after the observer was reported missing and conducted search operations for approximately 72 hours.
The search was unsuccessful.
KOO’S 103 is returning to Majuro, where further investigations will be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
MIMRA Chief Fisheries Officer Beau Bigler said the authority was coordinating its response with the observer’s provider, Kiribati’s Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR).
Based on information and video evidence available so far, MIMRA said there was no indication of foul play.
However, further investigations will be carried out once the vessel arrives in port.
MIMRA has formally notified the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Secretariat and said it would report any significant developments.
The authority said its response was guided by the WCPFC Conservation and Management Measure for the protection of Regional Observer Programme observers (CMM 2017-03) and the Forum Fisheries Agency’s Harmonised Minimum Terms and Conditions for access by fishing vessels.
Bigler said the authority’s immediate concern was the missing observer’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Observers spend long periods far from home, doing demanding and often unseen work on behalf of the whole region, and we owe them our deepest respect and care,” he said.
He said MIMRA would continue working with relevant authorities and vessel officers to establish what happened.
The incident has highlighted the risks faced by fisheries observers, who play a critical role in monitoring fishing activities and supporting sustainable fisheries management across the Pacific.
MIMRA extended its thoughts to the missing observer’s relatives, colleagues at MFOR and the wider regional observer community.
